They were arrested shortly after a video showing Macia being tied to the back of a police van and dragged through the streets of Daveyton, Gauteng, in February last year went viral.

The accused alleged they had a confrontation with Macia when he refused to move his taxi, which was obstructing traffic. After being dragged he was found dead in the Daveyton police station's holding cells several hours later, wearing only his underwear and socks.

His trousers were found in another part of the police station.

Phiyega assured MPs, who expressed concern about police brutality, that the SA Police Service would not hesitate to act against its members.

“When an action took place here in Cape Town where we saw people beating somebody else, we acted instantly. Those members are not in the service,” she said.

Phiyega was referring to two police officers who were filmed kicking a naked Nigerian man in the Cape Town CBD in March.

One of the warrant officers was dismissed, while the other resigned before disciplinary action could be instituted against him. Both men face assault charges in court.

“If anyone does anything that is our outside our prescripts, we shall not hesitate to act,” Phiyega said.